Participants received 16 oral-fluid HIVST kits to screen potential sexual partners. They were monitored weekly for 3 months, and then interviewed in depth. They received a bag containing condoms, 16 HIVST kits, written instructions on HIVST kit use, a card with HIV- and violence-related resources available in the community, the study website address, and a 24-hour hotline number they could use for assistance from two senior clinical psychologists supervising the study.

Summary of findings

101/124 sexual partners agreed to use the HIV self-test. Ten individuals who self-tested had HIV-positive results. Seven were potential sexual partners, and three were acquaintances of the participants; 6/10 were unaware of their status. No sexual intercourse took place after positive tests. Very few problems occurred. Most participants strongly desired to continue using HIVST and to buy it freely.

There were very few adverse experiences. Out of the approximately 124 occasions in which participants invited their partners to use HIVST, seven led to verbally aggressive situations (two participants reported two aggressive situations each); none of them resulted in violence towards the participant.

Linkage to prevention, care and treatment

Several participants reported that in case of a reactive result they will seek confirmatory testing followed by treatment (n=n/a).